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The Scots pine is one of the only trees that grow in both the UK and Ireland which does not have the usual woody cone; instead it has a fleshy cone. The only two other trees that have this appearance as the Yew tree and the Juniper tree. Red deal is the timber that is harvested from the Scots pine, and in terms of importance, it is second only to oak timber. The Scots pine, however, as it matures, will take second place in relation to the Sitka Spruce.

This particular tree once held with the majority position in the great Northern European forest, especially in the area which used to be known as the great Caledonian forest. The real beauty about this tree is that it will grow on almost any type of soil so is particularly well-suited to Irish forestry. It will grow on soils that are very poor in minerals, the soils can be both dry and wet, and in a stand of Scots pine, the tree will not compete with any surrounding deciduous timber. It also is very variable in the many different countries in which it is planted. Seeds from one country can be transported and planted in another country which only increases its variability.

The Scots pine has weaknesses in the sense that as a standing timber it can catch fire fairly easily and will burn very quickly. It does not copice very well and it will have to be replanted once it has been removed from the landscape. The remains of ancient Scots pine can be found all over Ireland and Britain. The bogs of Ireland are absolutely full of what is known locally as bog deal. Forest Ireland has uncovered pieces of buried pine timber that may have been under cover for thousands of years. It is often used today as a material for sculpting.